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Woodworking Tools for Beginners
Want to start your first woodworking project but have no idea where to start? Then this post is written just for you!! Below are 10 essential woodworking tools for beginners.
There are so many tools on the market that it can become overwhelming trying to decide what you need for your woodworking project. Once you have the following 10 tools then you can pretty much build any beginner project. Once you get more experience then you can start gradually adding more tools in your inventory.
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The 10 Essential Woodworking Tools for Beginners
Before we start I would like to mention that most of the tools we have listed below are of great quality. As my dad used to tell me about tools you get what you pay for. In my experience this is definitely true. So we have listed primarily Dewalt tools which are considered one of the top brands and will last for a very long time. You will end up paying a little more upfront but in the long run you will save money by buying quality brands. Also when you are ready to upgrade you can always sell your used tools on places like offerup. Quality brands like Dewalt will sell very easy and you can get at least 60-70 percent of purchase value if tool is in good working condition.
Please note some of the tools below come only with the tool itself no battery or charger. We recommend buying at least two batteries so you can always use one and then charge the other. Also if both batteries are charged it will save a lot of time and effort if using multiple tools not having to switch them out constantly. I am just speaking from experience. You can grab a battery and charger combo here.
1. Measuring tools
I am going to lump these together since you may have some of this stuff already. But in reality the following are probably the most important tools even though they are simple.
- Measuring tape: Having a measuring tape ensures accurate cuts.I would suggest buying at least a 25 ft long measuring tape so you can use it for other things besides woodworking. If you have one already don’t worry about buying another.
- Pencil or Marker: You can raid your kids school supplies for this. All you need is something that will draw a line on a piece of wood.
- Speed Square: A speed square has many uses. The most common use is to mark your angle cuts so you have a nice straight line to cut. Many woodworkers also use a speed square to make sure their joints are a square 90 degrees.
- Level: A level is used to make sure your object is in line or straight.
2. Power Drill
Some argue a power drill is the most important tool in your arsenal and they do make good points. The way I see it without the items listed above in measuring tools the power drill becomes irrelevant. But for sure the most important power tool is the power drill without question. This should definitely be your first power tool purchase.
I would recommend buying at least two power drills like the set below so you can use one to drill your pilot holes and then use the other to screw in the screws. Below set is a great starter set since it includes a drill driver, impact driver, 2 batteries, 1 charger. It will save you from buying batteries and a charger while getting 2 drills as well.
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2-Tool
3. Miter Saw
A miter saw (also known as a chop saw) is the fastest and easiest way to cut wood boards down. It can cut straight or angled boards. There are lot’s of options when in the market for a miter saw.
Although there are more sizes you will primarily find 2 sizes 10″ and 12″. There are more blade choices with a 10″ saw and it makes a finer cut. But 12″ is more powerful and can more easily cut bigger pieces of lumber such as a 4 x4 in one pass. If you are on a budget I would suggest 10″ miter saw but if you can afford it definitely get the 12″.
Also you have choices such as compound miter saw, single bevel or double bevel, and sliding miter saws. At the very least I would suggest getting a single bevel sliding compound miter saw. This will make most angle cuts and cut wider pieces of wood as the blade will slide. The primary difference between single bevel and double bevel is the direction of cuts. Single Bevel can only cut right or left. While double bevel can cut in both directions. You can get away with single bevel by just flipping the piece of wood over but you will have to remember to do this.
Finally I would suggest getting a miter saw with a cord. Battery operated might make it easier to transport and use but you have limited life on the battery. Unless you have a lot of batteries it could become a hassle to keep switching out and charging batteries between devices. A miter saw will drain the battery drastically faster than a drill will.
So see below for my recommendation miter saw for beginners:
DEWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saw, 12-Inch
4. Circular Saw
A circular saw is great for cutting large or unwieldy pieces of wood. Miter saws are definitely a powerhouse, but it can’t cut pieces of wood like plywood as it’s to long. Circular saws can make most of the cuts a miter saw and table saw can perform so it’s great for beginners. Only downsides to Circular saws is it takes a lot more effort to make cuts and they are not as accurate as a miter or table saw. If you can’t afford a miter saw or table saw a good alternative is a circular saw.
DEWALT 20V MAX 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Brake, Tool Only
5. Orbital Sander
If you have ever sanded anything by hand you know it’s not very fun. With an orbital sander you can sand any wooden surface completely smooth in the fraction of time it would take by hand. You will want to sand most objects you make while woodworking to prevent splinters and to give a better surface to paint or stain.
I suggest a corded orbital sander over a battery operated one. Some wood projects may require quite a bit of sanding and you don’t want to worry about if you have enough juice to finish your project. It will also be easier on your pocketbook as corded tools are usually much cheaper than battery operated.
DEWALT Random Orbit Sander, 5-Inch
6. Jigsaw
Jigsaw is a tool that won’t be used as often as all of the others on this list. Although when needed it’s absolutely invaluable. Not many tools can make the cuts that a jigsaw can perform and the ones that can are very expensive. Jigsaws are tools that you use to cut non-linear lines in wood or to cut a piece out of the middle of wood.
DEWALT 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion Jig Saw (Tool Only), 10-Piece T-Shank Jig Saw Blade Set w/Case
7. Table Saw
Table saws serve the same basic function as a circular saw when it comes to cutting across wider pieces of wood. So why a table saw then? Because they’re better for when you absolutely need to cut a perfectly straight line and it make the cut much faster. For beginners I would suggest a smaller sized table saw so you can get used to using it. Table saws are very powerful, therefore they are one of the most dangerous power tools. So it’s probably my only recommendation to start small then upgrade if necessary. If you buy quality like Dewalt you can always sell your table saw when you want to upgrade really easily and for at least 60-70 percent of what you paid for it.
I also suggest buying a corded table saw versus a battery operated one for same reasons as the other power tools. If you are on a tight budget you can just use a circular saw with rip guide instead of using the money on a table saw. Although if you can afford it I highly recommend investing in a table saw. It will make your life and project much easier.
DEWALT Table Saw for Jobsite, Compact, 8-1/4-Inch
8. Kreg Pocket hole Jig
When you start going through woodworking plans you will see a lot of projects requiring pocket holes. Pocket holes are great because they make a strong joint and you can’t see the screws from the outside. Skilled woodworkers might not need this jig but for beginners it makes life really easy and creates a clear look.
Kreg K4 Pocket HoleJig System
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9. Workbench
A workbench is not required but it beats making cuts and assembling on either the ground or on sawhorses. The workbench I am recommending folds up so it’s easy to store and doesn’t take up a lot of space. Also surprisingly even though it’s Dewalt branded it’s either cheaper or around the cost of other equivalent brands. Once you gather enough tools and experience constructing your own workbench is advised.
DEWALT Express Folding Workbench
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10. Clamps
Often when woodworking you need an extra set of hands. Clamps can allow you to more easily join pieces of wood together with either screws or glue and often times both. Any serious woodworker will have a few sets of clamps to help out. As always my suggestion is to start small and work your way up. As you progress in skill buy bigger and better clamps.
DEWALT Bar Clamp with Trigger, Medium, 12-Inch, 2-Pack
Summary on Woodworking Tools for Beginners
I hope this article is helpful getting you started on some woodworking on your own. When starting anything new it’s often intimidating and can seem overwhelming. I can’t explain the feeling totally but there is a certain satisfaction on building something with your own hands. Woodworking projects make great gifts as well that will last a long time.
Sincerely
Rod
P.S: If you’re thinking about starting any project, check out the world’s largest collection of 16,000 woodworking plans. It’ll make your next project so much easier and hassle-free!
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